Association of the interleukin-27 gene expression and hepatitis b virus infection in liver transplanted patients

• Published in: Experimental and clinical transplantation 2017-10, Vol.15 (5), p.554-560
• Main Authors: Karimi,Mohammad Hossein, Geramizadeh,Bita, Yaghobi,Ramin, Zare,Abdolhossein, Rashki,Ahmad, Afshari,Afsoon, Miri,Hamid Reza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Tıp
• ISSN: 1304-0855; 2146-8427
• DOI: 10.6002/ect.2015.0243

Objectives: Hepatitis B viral infection is among the most common causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and a frequent viral indication for liver transplant. Cytokine-mediated immunity plays a critical role in introducing and promoting hepatitis B virus outcomes and in graft microenvironment. Interleukin 27 is a heterodimeric cytokine and a member of interleukin-6/interleukin-12 family. Interleukin-27 shows a broad range of pro- and antiinflammatory properties and plays a determining role during immune responses in combating hepatitis B virus. Therefore, in this study, the possible association between expressions of interleukin-27 gene with hepatitis B virus infection was evaluated in liver transplant patients. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study from liver transplant patients with the risk of hepatitis B virus infection who admitted to Namazi Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 50 patients were selected and subgrouped to 25 hepatitis B virus-infected and 25 noninfected ones between years 2011 and 2013. The 25 healthy controls also were enrolled in this study. The presence of hepatitis B virus infection was assessed using polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocols in liver transplant patients. In addition, the interleukin-27 gene expression level was analyzed using an in-house-SYBER Green real time polymerase chain reaction method. The rate of interleukin-27 gene expression level was statistically analyzed in studied patient groups and controls using the Livak (2-ΔΔCT) method. Results: The expression level of interleukin-27 gene was increased 10.27- and 2.36-fold in hepatitis B virusinfected and uninfected liver transplanted patients compared with healthy controls. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection can lead to overexpression of interleukin-27 gene in liver transplant patients compared with uninfected ones and controls. However, further studies are needed to characterize the effective antihepatitis B virus effects of interleukin- 27 in liver transplant patients.